BENSON

The Return of the prodigal son.

@captbenscn​ 

“Liv.” He calls out, and it is soft. A whisper, a prayer, the sound of truth. A wave of disbelief crashing down on him after years of avoiding approaching the shore. In all this chaos, there’s hope. In this mess of blue and red lights, there are emotions that are slowly being dusted off by the steps echoing against the pavement. He’s not sure if she heard him, his mouth already opening to call out to her once more, but like a bolt finding it’s grooves, Olivia turns on her heels, and something clicks in the shrinking chasm that lays, that still lingers between them. He doesn’t hear her say his name, but he sees it in the shape of her lips and something in his chest breaks lose and the flood of memories, moments washes over Elliot and in a weird way makes him feel like he is finally where he is suppose to be.

Elliot looks into her eyes and it suddenly 1999 and they are standing beneath the rainy sky of New York City. ‘For better or worse’, echoing through his mind as he takes a step closer and the sun is beating down on him — her short hair swaying, folders held tight against her chest and he is stopping, realizing that there’s something new in his chest that shouldn’t be taking root.

He takes another step and the knife is against her neck, and he swear inwardly at the horrible pain that his heart is feeling at the thought of losing her. Another step and she’s gone and Elliot is forced to move on, to have another partner that could never measure up. The strings between them becomes taut, and Elliot is seeing her reclaim her desk saying: I work here. And his chest has never felt more relieved in his life.

He stops in front of her and it is 2006 and they are sitting on the steps to his house, the air of renewal swaying around them. The dark inky sky witness of all that was left unspoken, a bond that they did not dare to discover. Because he is sure things would have changed that night. If he was a little bolder, a little bit braver this moment between them would be entirely different. But nothing changed, everything remained the same and he is telling her about Kathy’s pregnancy and the disappointment in her voice is a knife to his heart.

Broken, unbound, burden by the well of emotions that had been shoved to the very basement of his self.

There were so many moments that had slowly began to surface, his mind overwhelmed, the air thick with remembrance and uncertainty. But it isn’t enough time… Not enough time to sort through twelve years of partnership. Not enough time to sort through the many moment he had wished for things that would have gotten him banned in the eyes of God. Not enough time to fully understand what it meant to have Olivia here, standing in front of him. So familiar but foreign at the same time and the ache in his chest spreads throughout his body.

“Liv.” 

Everything stops. 

Time.

The sirens.

The people.

Her breathing.

But not her heart. No. Her heart was moving faster than anything else in this moment - beating harder than it had in years.

Caused first by seeing her face. The face of the woman married to her Partner of twelve years. The face of the woman married to the person Olivia once loved more than anything else in the world... Kathy Stabler. 

It was deja-vu seeing her in that stretcher, hurt and bloodied, taking her back thirteen years ago. But if was the fact that she was here that threw Olivia. The woman that disappeared, along with her husband, ten years ago. No call, no message, nothing. 

She was here. In New York.

And if she was here, did that mean...? Was Elliot...?

That’s when she heard his voice... 

“Elliot.”

The one word comes out breathless, having held it for what felt like several minutes and only after she was sure the image of him wouldn’t fade away this time. Not like the several other times that happened when she saw him standing before her, or in the distance, or so she thought. All which had been fake, an illusion, a trick of her mind. Be it when she was walking the streets of the city that she’d almost been everywhere with him in or in the Precinct they nearly spent every day together in.

Sometimes she’d see him at his desk or the coffee station, only for him to be gone when she blinked. Sometimes she was so sure she could hear his voice amongst the many others within the Precinct only to remind herself that he wasn’t there. That he was gone, never to be seen, or heard, again.

Or so she thought. Because in this moment, she had just been proven wrong. 

He was here. Somehow, someway, standing before her in the distance. Truth be told, Olivia was afraid to blink for fear that if she did, he’d disappear. Disappear like he did ten years ago and all the years in between, but her eyes begged for relief so she blinked once, he was still there. Blinked twice. He was still there. 

“Oh my god...” Without even thinking, she moved forward - feet taking control. Her heart taking control, needing to be closer, needing to look into his eyes and make sure this moment was happening.

Each step she takes, he remains. Each steps she takes, brings her closer to him and soon, she’s standing right in front of him. Breathing the same air, standing with little space between them just like the old days. Something that would happen without them realizing it, without them trying, and that’s what happened in this moment standing so close to him. It was her heart screaming for him, begging for this to be real, though admittedly at the same time, scared that it was real. 

Staring into his eyes in this moment, their Partnership flashes through her eyes. From the moment they met on that rainy day to their last moment in the Precinct - staring at one another from a distance, as though it were a sign of the space that was about to come between them, but now they stood closer than they had in that moment ten years ago... her heart felt as though it were about to burst from her chest, her lungs struggling to find the air it needed.  She’s suffocating within his presence, and used to, she could breathe easier...

She’s at a loss of words, but this mouth opens as though about to speak and her breath catches in her throat with anticipation, waiting for what he is about to tell her, needing him to say something first...

And when he does, her heart drops. Sinks into her stomach, into the acid within. He side steps her and moves passed her, and suddenly Olivia is feeling empty. Cold. Just like that, he’s gone. Again. But... still there. Proof that, still, it was not an illusion. Not a trick of the mind.

“Captain Benson!” 

Olivia is snapped from her daze when someone else calls for her, not the voice she wanted to hear, but the one she needs to hear. Because her focus needs to be on the victim, on the situation at hand, not on the person she’s missed and so desperately wanted to see during the ten years he was gone. 

She turns and heads back to the scene, once again standing near Elliot while the EMT fills them both in, as well as one of the Officers on site. “Get her to the hospital. I’ll follow.” Olivia nods, turning to Elliot and inhaling sharply. “She’s waiting for you, Elliot. Go.” Olivia nods to the ambulance behind him where his wife lay in the stretcher. “Go. I’ll be right there.” She assures him, this time being the first to walk away so she didn’t spend anymore time standing there than she needed to.

They needed to get Kathy to the hospital, they needed to get her help before it was too late.

She gets to her car and gives one last look to Elliot, watching as he climbs into the back of the ambulance, taking his wife’s hand. And it’s then she feels it. That twinge of jealous, of bitterness, not just because of her feelings for the man that was once her Partner, but because of the reason that he left. Or, quite possibly, part of that reason. And it’s wrong of her, she knows it, thus why sometimes she would tell herself that it was right that he left, that it was fair. For both of them, but more so for him. 

A heavy sigh falls from the Captain’s lips as she climbs into the driver’s seat, waiting for the ambulance to drive off first before she followed, sirens blaring, helping to make it difficult to think. 

“Elliot’s not coming back, Liv..” 

“You sure you are alright with this?”

His question gives her pause and before she answers, Olivia turns the question on him. “Are you sure you’re alright with this?” They’ve discussed this operation - the purpose of it, why it was important, who all was involved, what all needed to be done. Both stating they were okay with it, but now that it had been put into motion with Olivia sending Frank his way, feelings could have possibly changed. Especially knowing that they had possible ties with The Marcy Killers. At least, that was the suspicion brought about by Nova. Just how many dirty cops were there within the NYPD? Olivia was almost afraid to find out.

But she knew Elliot. She knew he wanted to do this, needed to do this, and at least he wouldn’t have to hide. He wouldn’t have to run away, he wouldn’t have to leave his family behind and take on an entirely new persona, though he’d have to play another part. Act as though his trust with his Sergeant - and the system in general - was shaken after the Wheatley incidents, allowing Frank to weasel his way into Elliot’s circle, or rather to draw him into his circle. It started off well enough and today was meant to progress it further.

But she did worry for Elliot. Out of one UC assignment and into another though, again, this one was different for many reasons, but she still worried for him. The danger it posed, the risk he’d have to take, and what it could do to his mind. But they were in this together - they knew right from wrong, they knew dark from light. Though, Olivia knew it would not be without difficulty. They would need to tread carefully and if the danger became too much, they’d pull Elliot out of this. And he knew that. He was full prepared to pull himself out if needed, but he wanted this. He wanted to flush the darkness and corrupt out of the NYPD, as did Olivia and Ayanna. Thus why they were all working this together in secret.

And this wouldn’t stop him from going to therapy. They all agreed on that.

“I’m not… okay with you being in this kind of danger again..” Olivia answers, but she knows he’ll be careful. Though, it won’t stop her from worrying. But this time he’s being monitored far more than when he was with the Albanians. And at least they know him as Elliot - so there’s no chance of his true self being found out. They already know he’s a cop. “Nor do I like fighting with you, but we’re pretty good at it.” She chuckles, thinking back on their many fake arguments during interrogations. It helped them quite a few times, though this one would be a bit different in that it would be in public for all eyes and ears around them to see and hear, but that was the point. Elliot needed to be put on the spot, needed to be seen in a negative light so Frank, and whoever he was aligned with, could swoop in and sway Elliot to their side.

She chuckles against his lips at his remark about the hoodie and she wraps her arms around him, wanting to be as close as possible for as long as possible before they had to part ways. “Just make sure it’s dry. Pretty sure it’s supposed to rain.” She reminds him, kissing him again and letting her lips linger, letting out a heavy sigh just before she’s pulling away - but not yet letting go… almost afraid to.

“Are you sure you’re alright with this?” 

Not surprising that Olivia had chosen to turn this on him. He understood the underlining of her words perfectly. You’d think that after all this time he would grow tired of all of this. The hiding, the secrecy… The darkness that had been exuding for quite a while and just now he is addressing it. And yes, he is tired, but he also won’t rest in peace knowing what he knows. Knowing that he could have done something to stop the hemorrhaging of good values that NYPD should represent. The climate for any kind of officer is hurricane, especially in recent years and the only way they can come to fix the bad image was to do something in house. And that’s exactly what they are attempting. It isn’t an easy task, and once they are done with this particular assignment, it would barely clean up the image that had befallen the department, but it is a start. It is a way to inspire others to come forward and express their concern about their fellow colleagues. His father would have hated this, but there was no other choice.

Something needed to be done.

“No.” He answers in full honesty. Lying to Olivia was never an option, and even if he did lie, she would have seen right through his bullshit. “But I wouldn’t be alright knowing what I know and not doing anything about it.” It was more than just ego. It was him putting respect on the profession he had chosen for himself decades ago. Albeit all the shit he had gone through, all that he had seen, he respects this job with every fiber of his being. For all of Elliot’s fault, there have always been passion behind every decision that had been made in the middle o his career. Many of them that had made the detective re-examine himself at pivotal points of his life. And even though he hadn’t always made the right decisions, he always confronted the fallout of them. Expect once… Expect when he had decided to run away and leave his heart behind. For which he was still atoning even if Olivia had forgiven him already. 

The way they can both be honest with each other but still understand the circumstances was something that Elliot come to value greatly. Their relationship was never based on power over another. It was never about disagreement that never reached true solutions. It was about respect, understanding, but most importantly, trust. Elliot, all this time had actually believed that his past marriage had been healthy but now he knows better. The need for Kathy to control every aspect of him, to make sure he would never leave had him blind to the truth. What Kathy had disguise as love was nothing more that a dagger to his heart and he was slowly bleeding out. He should’ve known better when they letter was written… A letter he never handed to Olivia, a letter that had finally shown him Kathy’s true colors. It was the reason why the decision of not returning to Rome had become so easy to make. “This time around I know everything is going to work out for the best. I have you in my corner after all.” Not that he didn’t have her before. He was unable to keep his other UC under wraps. Disappearing wasn’t an option, not after everything they’ve been through, but this time around, he can count on her counsel, personal and professional. He doesn’t have to hide anything from her though the fighting in front of 1PP is worrying him because he knows damn well that the moment that goes through the grapevine, vultures will come around to try and persuade Olivia from his side. It wasn’t a secret that many men in the department were trying to shoot their shots when it came to Olivia, and hadn’t been too happy when he returned and swept her off her feet. “Oh I am certain that the moment we go out in public fighting you’ll be receiving flowers and dinner invitations.” He’s trying to sound serious but there’s a tang of jealousy laced in his words. To which he had to laugh, because it was so stupid to feel jealous when he knew the truth of it all. 

Sometimes that lingering fear of losing her claws at his chest. 

She kisses him and Elliot is just lost in her. Hands on her hips, tightening around them after they pull apart. He breaths her in. She smells like spring laced with spice and Elliot commits it to memory.

Because of their feelings for one another. Feelings they couldn’t admit, feelings they couldn’t act one, but in some ways did - putting their jobs on the line. Not to mention what it was doing to his family working in SVU, and with her, so his leaving was for his family as much as it was for Olivia. To uncomplicate her life - he believed - and to keep her at SVU. If anything, for Olivia, his leaving complicated her life even more, it broke her, devastated her, but... she understood why. She understood through his eyes why he truly believed leaving was better for his family and for Olivia, even if she didn’t agree with it. Even if it hurt day after day. Not knowing when or if she’d see him again, watching her messages go unanswered, listening to her calls go to voicemail... 

He could have told her - he should have told her, but leaving was meant to help Olivia. To make things easier on her, to save her job when IAB was looking to take her down along with Elliot. He was being selfless, putting others before him as he always did and, well...

He was doing so now. 

From one Undercover assignment right into another. Both meant to undercover darkness within, both meant to save and protect people because that’s who he was - that’s who he had always been. Proven now when he admits to her that he isn’t okay with this, but isn’t backing out because of what he knows - because of the darkness happening within the NYPD itself. Darkness that needs to be snuffed out. Once again, he’s putting himself at risk for the job, for the people, but this time it will be different because he isn’t doing it alone. Not completely, anyway. Olivia was directly involved. She hadn’t been with the Albanians, but she was now. Though, she’d been there for Elliot as much as she could during his time as Eddie ‘Ashes’, but this time she could really be here for him, help him with the case, be directly involved and ready to jump in should anything happen. Though, she had a feeling it would turn out to be just as dangerous, what with the possible connections to the Marcy Killers, and admittedly, it terrified Olivia, but they had more help this time, more resources, more teamwork... they had each other.

“You do. You always have.” Olivia states, then follows it up with a smile. “Even when you try to turn my own son against me.” She throws in that teasing remark, speaking on their many game nights together where he tried to get Noah on his side, ganging up on her and sometimes it worked. But her words were also a reminder of what he still had at home, that at the end of each day, and during it, he had his family. He had her and nothing would change that. She had him and nothing would change that, she knew. 

She can’t help but laugh when he mentions the flowers and dinner invitations, rolling her eyes as she finishes smoothing down his blue hoodie. “The dinner invitations will be immediately turned down and the flowers? Well, they might look good on the kitchen island, or in the garden.” Olivia smirks, hands gently patting his chest. “You’re thinking too much about this, El. I’m not that sought after.” She chuckles, though maybe she was being modest. Throughout her years, she did have quite the number of men interested in her, but since she and El went public, that had changed. Especially because it was Elliot Stabler - Olivia Benson’s partner of twelve years. Longer than any pair of partners in the NYPD. Practically everyone had heard about them, knew about their story and how close they were...

Many surprised that it took them this long to actually become involved. It was hilarious, really, how many people thought there was much more between them than just a Partnership. Which some ways, they weren’t wrong, but it just never became physical. Never went beyond Partnership and friendship, even if it had come close...

“Hey, El?” Olivia calls out from her spot on the couch, a soft smile on her lips as she flips through the pages of the magazine in her hands, stopping when something catches her eye. “There’s an exhibit of the Plein Air Painters at the Whitney. How about we head uptown and grab some brunch?” There’s excitement in her voice upon asking, her eyes bright and full of life as she looks over the pictures in front of her, a preview of what they’d be seeing in person at the Museum itself. Anyone who knew Olivia Benson knew she loved Museums. Whether it was historical, or a science museum or in this case, a Museum of Fine Arts, Olivia loved them all. 

Though, she hadn’t been to one in a good while due to work, but like libraries, they had been an escape for her. A way for her to travel far away, to see life outside of New York, to imagine it, to experience it. Though, she was sure that one day soon, she really would be able to, what with feeling so… alive and hopeful ever since she and Elliot became involved. It was still new and not exactly official, or rather not publicly anyway, but most knew.

Their Captain, for one. Or rather, her Captain, considering Elliot was no longer part of the Special Victims Unit - something that never failed to bring Olivia pain just thinking about it, but at least she didn’t lose him completely. He didn’t leave New York again, he didn’t leave the country, he just was now working in a separate division and it was still close enough for the two of them to continue their relationship. Though, even if it had been some distance, it wouldn’t have been enough to break them apart… Olivia was sure nothing could, anymore. 

They were married, after all. Though accidental, but they decided to keep it intact what with actually being involved and, for years now, in love. Although, it wasn’t a conversation they had exactly, but neither brought up the subject of an annulment so that, in itself, was telling of where they stood. 

But Cragen knew. He wasn’t exactly happy about it at first - more so because it happened during an investigation in Las Vegas, though to be fair the investigation had been closed and they were left with some spare time to see the city or do what they wanted… and they certainly made the most of it. 

He was the only one aware of their accidental marriage, but others were aware of their relationship. Fin and Munch, of course. They didn’t even need confirmation, they just knew. 

Brian… that one hadn’t gone over to well. He and Olivia had problems before she left for Las Vegas and their relationship had practically ended, but that was official when she came back, much to Brian’s dismay and he knew exactly why. For who. There had been an argument, some hurtful words thrown back and forth, and then silence before going their separate ways and though her heart felt heavy with guilt, she felt… relieved. Happy. Excited. 

Complete.

And the reason being the man entering the living room dressed in a white bathrobe, his skin glistening - freshly showered. How the hell was she supposed to go a week without him? God, she was dreading it… dreading being without him. A week was nothing compared to two years, but still… after just getting him back, and in a way she never thought she’d have him, being away from him for any amount of time broke her. 

Things had fallen into step rather quickly for the pair. After their conversation in the break room back in the precinct and their dinner that followed, Elliot and Olivia had been more in synch. It was looking more and more like the people they used to be before he had to walk away, and even though there were a few kinks they needed to work out, Elliot was absolutely sure that it was only a matter of time until the vast majority of their issues were resolve. It was going to be a long and winding road, but he was certain that their end goal was beyond reach. It was only a matter of time, and this upcoming week was sure to put them to the test.

He doesn’t want to leave, even if how short of time he is to be away, he doesn’t. It was more than just missing Olivia, it is because of her reaction to it all. There was lingering feelings that his absence was going to bring forth, and as much as he wants to shield her from those pesky emotions, it was something he couldn’t prevent. In order for him to continue to do his job, he needed to go to Quantico. For a brief moment he questioned if he really wanted to leave SVU, if he wanted to put that distance between them but as things stood, as their marriage took hold, Elliot came to realize that, in the end, the brass was going to end up separating them and well, he had found a unit he likes and feels compelled to be part of. So sacrifices needed to be made for the good of their relationship. 

It is going to be worth it, he knows. 

Olivia’s voice filters into the bathroom just as he was getting out of the shower, and he grins. The domesticity of it all not amiss to him. He could have this every day. Waking up to Olivia at his side, hearing her voice at any point of the day talking about things that weren’t work related, so seeing her smile when something she loves captures her attention. Like going to the museum. He looks at her from where he stood, the grin on her face, the prospect of the day already in full blown images in her head and he wants that, wants to give her a good time, wants to see her genuinely smile. When he approaches, and she speaks, Elliot laughs. 

She has to take a moment to push certain thoughts to the back of her mind and push away certain feelings, as well - certain temptations. Because she knows if she allows herself to give into the urge of dipping her fingers beneath his towel and pulling it loose, they aren’t leaving for a while. If at all. 

He makes his way over and kisses the top of her head before he joins her on the couch - wet, shiny, hot. The fact that he’s getting the sofa wet doesn’t bother Olivia as much as it should, he’s far too distracting and it’s only when he speaks and takes the magazine from her that Olivia is broken from her daze, her eyes locking with his instead of his middle - or lower - regions where they had been prior. His words of agreement prompts a wide smile, excitement filling her eyes. It had been a good while since she’s been to the Museum. Heck, it’s been a while since she’s planned a whole day like this, and to have someone that showed real interest in doing the same things she enjoyed, even adding to it? It meant everything.

 But more than that? It meant everything that it was Elliot. The person she’s wanted to do so many things with... including what she did next.

She shifts from her laying position on the couch and moves onto her hands and knees, crawling just a couple of steps until her lips find Elliot’s cheek, the corner of her lips just brushing over the edge of his beard and she’s smiling against his skin. “Sounds perfect. If we get started now, we’ll probably have enough time in the day to make all of that happen.” It was still early enough after all. Though, that meant they’d have to get off of this couch, but instead of doing that, Olivia’s hand finds his bare knee and glides upwards, over the towel and across his thigh, nearly ghosting over his groin, and moving up his bare abdomen and chest where she stops in the middle of his pecs - fingers moving through the hairs there, toying with them. “So you should probably get this towel off and get dressed, hm?” She murmurs against his cheek, lips and nose nuzzling him, making their way to his lips where she only lets herself kiss him for a brief second before she’s pulling back, knowing she wouldn’t be able to stop if she kissed him any longer. 

The fight is written all over her face as she pulls back and moves off of the couch.

No. Elliot did. The things he saw? The things he had to do? They were damaging. 

And the more it went on, the more said person could lose themselves. And though she knew he wouldn’t completely lose himself, though she believed he wouldn’t, she could see the guilt eating at him. She could see the confliction within his pained blue eyes, she could see him drowning in it. The line between what was real and what wasn’t becoming blurred. The line between what he should do and what he shouldn’t thinning for the sake of the mission. But the line never completely disappeared. She didn’t let it. His family didn’t let it. And neither did he.

Because beneath the fake persona that was Eddie ‘Ashes’ Wagner lay the real man, Elliot Stabler. The savior. The shield. The protector. The father. All which remained true throughout the entire Operation. He protected. He shielded. He saved. Rita. Amelia. And other several women. Children. 

For no one, and nothing, could ever take the savior out of Elliot Stabler. No one could ever take the shield from him. 

It was his to keep, forever bound to him. It belonged to him, with him.

“Do I worry you?” A rhetorical question, meant to prove that his own was futile. Worrying was a part of their life - especially theirs because of this job they had to do. He worried for her and she worried for him. He worried for his children, they worried for him. “If it isn’t the Undercover assignment, it’ll be something else. And I know you feel the same for me.” Worrying about what this job could do to her, about the serious dangers that came with it.  But that’s how they were with one another, how they always had been and always would be. A sign of their never wavering adamantine love for each other.

Sighing at his words, Olivia brings his hands closer to her chest, meant to bring his body closer to hers. “My peace of mind is that you are home and alive, El. It’s your mind that isn’t at peace.” And understandably so. She looks down at his hands once more and brings one to her lips, a kiss intended to help heal his pain. “But we’ll get there. We both know what this job can do to us, but through it all, we’ve always overcome.” Then she’s looking back up at him with a soft smile. “Haven’t we?” Not just them as Partners or friends, but as separate people who have been through so much in life, but here they still stand. Here they still move forward. He always thinks of her as one of the strongest, but Olivia sees him as just the same. The proof is within his eyes, within his heart, within his mind. The proof is him. 

She takes him to the bathroom despite his words and gets the water running. She watches as he discards his shirt and she takes a moment to run her hands up and down his chest, hoping to calm the tension that lives within them in the current moment. Then she presses a kiss to the middle before she’s stepping back to discard her own clothing and once ready, she’s stepping into the warm water. She positions herself against the back of it, long ways, and gestures for him to follow. Arms open as an invite, wanting him to sit with her, to relax with her and allow the hot water to relieve what tension it could and what tension she could not in the physical sense.  And once he joins her, lips are pressing to the side of his head and arms are coming around him, first running up and down his arms in a soothing manner before they’re sliding under his arms and meeting on his abdomen where slender fingers stroke his skin, keeping her touch soft and soothing. Another kiss to his temple before they move closer to his ear while fingers glide up and down his body. “I usually do.” She responds to his earlier words about her having the right idea, letting out a quiet chuckle against his skin. “Give yourself a peace of mind, okay? Don’t think about anything but this.” She coos into his ear, nuzzling with a quiet sigh and allowing her eyes to flutter shut - her heartbeat strong against his back, in sync with his own. 

Always in sync. 

‘Do I worry you?’

He didn’t need to answer, he knew well it was only to make her point and she was right. Her point was made the answer was simple, he always worried for her. But that was part of loving someone, right?  Loving meant worrying. Loving meant wanting the best for the other. Loving meant sharing the struggles and come up with solutions for them. Love wasn’t always a rose garden, the thorns would always make their way onto someone’s skin, someone’s heart. Sometimes he looses sight of the simplest of things, but he always finds his way back, he finds his way back to her, Olivia. It was the reason why the thin line of good and bad never disappeared, even when he lost sight of it from time to time. He knew what waited for him on the side of good, and like a siren song, he follows the melodious sound of the little bit of purity he had left to his family, to his love, to his mission and oath. To the promised he made to himself when Maureen was first born. To be a shield and protector. To be the best version of himself even when darkness struck his heart and that promise remains true to this very day.

There are reminders of them everywhere he looks. 

In Olivia’s kind eyes. 

In his mama’s caring advice. 

In his kids happiness.

in his team faith in him.

So when he laughs at her following words it is almost hollow but laced with understanding. Any other person would take his reaction as rude, but he knows better and so does Olivia. Years of knowing each other, of a lasting partnership had created a base for understanding that he had never been able to recreate with anyone else. No one has ever come close and no one ever will. There was a special kind of chemistry between them that no one could ever replicate such results. “You know...” He begins, voice like gravel bouncing off the quiet walls surrounding them, keeping the words inside their own little world, their own little bubble. “I always though that belonging was simply a word people used to excuse their loneliness.” Eyes close softly in concentration to feel the beating of his heart, steady, strong, hers. “To allow themselves to believe that they only belong to themselves. But you…” Elliot relaxes against Olivia, his eyes still closed, her touch leaving a path of goosebumps against his skin. He likes the sensation, the otherworldly feeling that tells him without a shadow of a doubt that he was home, that he was where he belonged.

“You give meaning to that word now more than ever.” Hand lands on top of her, fingers wrapping against her soft skin before he lifts to pressed a kiss against it. “I belong here, with you, with your heart.” 

Words that resonated deeply with Olivia. Completely. Perfectly. 

Because she belonged here with Elliot. In his arms, against his body, within his heart. It’s where she’s always belonged, even when she didn’t. When she couldn’t. And when he couldn’t. But he did, he always had and always would - even during those ten years he wasn’t there. Those ten years she had to be without him - he still belonged in her heart, taking up the biggest part of it. No one else came close. David, Brian, Ed... men that she cared for, that cared deeply for her, that once upon a time she loved, but never was she in love with them. Never did she feel an all consuming love for those men as she did with Elliot. The kind of love that made it difficult to think of anything else, that made it difficult to want anything else - the kind of love that either made you the happiest or brought you the most pain. The kind of love that only existed with one person and that person for her was Elliot. It always had been Elliot and it always would be. 

Everyone knew that. Brian knew it. Fin knew it. Amanda knew it. Cragen knew it. Some knowing before Olivia even admitted it to herself, but now she could admit it out loud without restraint. To herself, to Elliot, to the entire world, though she was sure they knew already. At least all of NYC did because who didn’t know about SVU Partners Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler? There had been no other pair of partners that worked longer than she and Elliot had, there had been no other pair of partners with the kind of love, bond and friendship like the one that existed between Elliot Stabler and Olivia Benson.

All which still existed to this day. Even stronger now.

“The feeling is mutual.” She replies after a few seconds, lips pressed against his cheek once more before trailing their day down to his shoulder, just above the water. “El, you know I’ve... always wanted to be part of a family...” She murmurs against his wet skin, her fingers still gliding up and down his abdomen and chest beneath the water. “More than anything and it’s... something I’ve always had with you. Something I’ve always felt with you, with your kids..” Though, not in the way she truly wanted... until now. “Then I met Noah and I... I really felt it, you know?” Her son, the light of her life... just thinking of him had her smiling, brought tears to her eyes. “And now you’re back and we’re here and god, it’s... it really feels complete.” She murmurs against his skin, nuzzling her lips against him while pulling him closer against her if at all possible. 

“Family is everything.” Words he once said to her so many years ago. Words that she never forgot, words that she never let go of. They stuck with her since that day, stuck with her for the next fifteen years, to this very day. His voice never left her head, never left her heart. 

He was her family. Noah was her family. His kids were her family. And for that, she was thankful.